1970 Georgia gubernatorial election

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The 1970 Georgia gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Democrat Jimmy Carter defeated Republican Hal Suit, winning 620,419 votes (59.35%) to 424,983 (40.65%).

Incumbent Governor Lester Maddox could not seek re-election due to Georgia’s 1945 constitution. The Democratic nomination featured former governor Carl Sanders as a front-runner, but Carter, a relatively unknown former state senator, won the September 23 runoff by about 20 points. Maddox ran for lieutenant governor and won the nomination; Carter and Maddox were not running mates in the general election.

Carter ran a populist campaign and sought to attract a broad coalition, including some segregationists, while avoiding direct ties to the White Citizens’ Council. He praised Maddox at times, calling him “the essence of the Democratic Party,” a tactic that drew criticism from some opponents. Carter later said in his 1971 inaugural address that the time for racial discrimination was over.

Carter’s victory helped propel him to national prominence, contributing to his 1976 presidential run. In this election, a few counties (notably Fulton and Clarke) voted for the Republican candidate, a rarity for Georgia at the time, while Carter won the state overall.